Kazakhstan and US need to strengthen military cooperation: US Army Central Command Sergeant Major

17 июня 2015, 12:03

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Photo courtesy of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense.

Kazakhstan and the United States need to strengthen bilateral military cooperation - this opinion was voiced by US Army Central Command Sergeant Major Ronnie Kelley, Tengrinews reports citing Newskaz.ru.

Ronnie Kelley arrived in Astana at the official invitation of the country&amprsquos Defense Ministry to take part in a conference of NCO corps of Kazakhstan&amprsquos Armed Forces.

He spoke about military cooperation between the two nations at the press conference organized by the US Diplomatic Mission to Kazakhstan on June 11. &ampldquoMilitary is a great opportunity for cooperation between our countries. I look at it very positively. Both countries understand that there are bad things happening in the world we live in. And the more we work as a team, the more we cooperate, the stronger we will be. Our multinational countries will be able to resist a foreign aggression,&amprdquo Ronnie Kelly is quoted as saying by Newskaz.ru.

&ampldquoYou are moving in the right direction, but there is no need to hurry. It is necessary to make thought through and consistent steps along the path of development. We have spent almost 250 years developing our army and NCO corps, while Kazakhstan has been doing that for about 20 years. I advise not to hurry and to learn from other countries,&amprdquo he said.

When speaking about Kazakhstan&amprsquos military personnel, he marked the level of their training. &ampldquoIn those areas where I work, I can say that I am impressed by the level of training of Kazakhstan&amprsquos soldiers. They are constantly learning and striving to get better. This motivates me. I closely work with Command Sergeant Major of Kazakhstan's armed forces Temirbek Khalykov, who was the first Kazakh to graduate from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. I am inspired by his passion to make Kazakhstan&amprsquos army more professional. He has recently been added to the Hall of Fame of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy as one of its best graduates. Few have managed to do that,&amprdquo Mr. Kelley said.

He also spoke about a joint training program that enables Kazakhstan's military professionals to study at US military institutions.&nbsp&nbsp&ampldquoAs for the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, this is a long-term assistance program and we have with Kazakhstan&amprsquos Ministry of Defense. Under this program, Kazakhstan&amprsquos military professionals are able to train and study in the US. This program helps prepare a new generation of NCO corps. We have senior sergeants and professional instructors, who teach and share experience in special training centers,&amprdquo Mr. Kelly said. To be eligible for this program Kazakhstan's military personnel should know English well, he added.

Besides, a sergeants drill course will kick off in July this year at the Cadet Corps of Kazakhstan&amprsquos Ministry of Defense in Schuchinsk. It last from six months to one year.

&ampldquoIt is unclear whether it will be prolonged next year. It is being discussed now,&amprdquo Mr.Kelley said.&nbsp